LCMS Commission on Constitutional Matters — Minutes St. Louis, Missouri — September 14, 1999, Page 7

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The Chairman of the Structure Committee of the Missouri District with a letter dated July 26, 1999,
submitted a draft version of a revision of the District’s Bylaws prepared by his committee. The Secretary of
the Commission will give careful attention to a review of this document and will provide a report to the next
meeting of the Commission.
59. Questions Re the Service of Women as Teachers of Theology or Campus Presidents (99-2160)
In a memorandum dated April 20, 1999, the Board for Higher Education/Concordia University System
Board (BHE/CUS) requested a ruling from the Commission on Constitutional Matters regarding the service
of women as teachers of theology or as presidents of synodical colleges, universities, or seminaries. The
resolution of the board reads as follows:
Resolved, that the BHE/CUS request a ruling from the CCM on whether or not the constitution and
bylaws of the LCMS permit a woman to serve as a teacher of religion/theology or as president of a
college, university or seminary.
The question is divided into two parts. The first to be considered:
1. Do the Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS permit a woman to serve as a teacher of
religion/theology of a college, university, or seminary?
Response to Question 1: The Commission responds that the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod are silent
regarding this question. The Commission therefore renders no opinion, noting that Bylaw 3.905, d, limits its
work to the interpretation of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions. The Commission notes,
however, that on page 50 in the 1998 Convention Workbook, Report of the Commission on Theology and
Church Relations, B, 1, b, this question, along with a number of related questions and issues, continues to
be among the studies in progress of the CTCR.
2. Do the Constitution and Bylaws of the LCMS permit a woman to serve as a president of a college,
university, or seminary?
Response to Question 2: Bylaw 3.905, d, states that “an opinion rendered by the Commission shall be
binding on the question decided unless and until it is overruled by a synodical convention.” The
Commission calls attention to earlier rulings of the Commission on Constitutional Matters in response to
this question. In a March 16, 1984 opinion, the Commission ruled:
The Synod has stated that a woman is not to exercise authority over man, particularly in spiritual
matters. It is true that the president of an institution may delegate certain responsibilities to staff
members. One of these responsibilities that may be delegated is that of spiritual leadership of the
institution. However, for the reason that the power to delegate is just that and is not a release of the
responsibility, and ultimate responsibility for supervision is that of the person delegating the
responsibility, the Commission rules that on the basis of present bylaws and resolutions of the Synod, a
woman may not serve as president since the president is to serve as the spiritual academic and
administrative head of the institution according to Bylaw 6.15. The Board of Regents may not delegate
this ultimate responsibility either since the bylaws specifically assign it to the president of the
institution.
The Commission was immediately asked to reconsider this ruling. It responded as follows:
In a telephone conference held on April 6, 1984 and by letter circulated among its members the
Commission reaffirmed its previous decision. It is of the opinion that when Bylaw 6.15 designates the
President as the “spiritual head” of the institution, service in the position of president by a woman
would be in conflict with the position of the Synod as stated in Resolution 2.17 of the 1969 Denver